Hasta La Creative!

Fingerprints is a creative studio and branding agency based in Chennai, India. They are a business-driven design agency spanning advertising, branding, online and multimedia needs.

Is Fingerprints Creative primarily an illustration and design company? Do you also work on brand building and corporate identities?
Fingerprints is an advertising and design studio, which believes in work that satisfies creative hunger while keeping the client happy. It’s important to us that we build, nurture and maintain brands as well as relationships.

Tell us about your designers/animators. Did they go to fine art or design schools? How do you pick them up?
Most of our designers are from design schools in and around Chennai. We only take in designers who get in touch with us and apply to our agency directly. We believe this brings out the fire in them to give us their best.

We have already managed to get a few good people on board, Vinayak Vohra, a graduate from Loyola and Venkit Kumar, help hold our creative fort strong. We plan to bring more people on board. Our people are our strength.

How would you define the design style at fingerprints creative?
Creative. Clean. Cutting edge.

We are in the business of doing good, clean and honest advertising. We want to do work that sells. We work with the client and not just for the client.

Were there any particular role models for you when you grew up?
Visually, my mind was opened up by the work of Salvador Dali.
But closer to home, is my mentor and friend Alexander Zachariah. As director at Rubecon and my first boss, he has really been a great inspiration and constantly supported my growth.

Who was the most influential personality on your career in graphic design?
Oh, the list can go on. I have loved the work of Alan Fletcher right from scratch. He has taught me to bring reason into design.
I also admire the work of Reza Abedini, Michael Wolf and Wally Olins.  One learns constantly. Taking influences not only from other designers, colleagues and peers, but also from the depth and experience that life presents us with.

What made you start Fingerprints Creative.
I started off the agency with a single laptop – my first Macbook Pro. I worked out of a small cubicle at my dad’s office, which became 2 cubicles, and then 3. It was at this point that I decided to take a leap of faith.

Fingerprints was fortunate to bag Oriental Cuisine (OCPL) that year. It was our first big account and gave us the chance to work with one of Chennai’s great minds – Mr. Mahadevan – a foodie, professor, restaurateur and entrepreneur. With OCPL we did communication for over 15 popular brands – Benjarong, China Town, Ente Keralam, Kebab House, Kokum, Le Chocolatier, The French Loaf, Wang’s Kitchen and Zara to name a few. This was a huge learning experience and we benefitted a great deal from it.

How important is the focus on good design in fingerprints creative.
Needless to say, it is crucial. No agency can even hope to be successful if good design is lacking in every piece of communication. It is as important as wings are to a bird.

Are you working with any advertising agencies? Any brands?
You can tell a lot about a design studio by the company it keeps. Or luckily for us, the companies.

Fingerprints has been fortunate to work with various brands including  The Hindu, Kumaran Silks, Tamil Nadu Tourism, the Taj group of Hotels, Mehta Jewellery, Just Casuals, Raj TV, Sathyam Cinemas, Mr. Butler’s, Brass Tacks, Geethanjali, Koblerr and more. We have also contributed our share to the Joy of Giving week.
 
What do you feel about the state of design in India? Do you feel that our collective aesthetics need to improve?
Design has come a long way in India. It is becoming more accepted, and no longer considered a wayward career choice. Easy access to international aesthetics, designers and work through social media is definitely allowing Indian design to grow.

In fact, India serves as inspiration for many designers abroad. On a whole, yes, our design sense has so much more potential.

What advice do you have for aspiring creative professionals? Would you advise them to take on graphic design as a career option?
Like I said, design is being accepted as a valid career path these days. It makes for an interesting and inviting choice because it offers freedom, creativity and propagates nonconformity.

I would advise students who are inclined towards creativity to definitely consider taking up design.  There are many opportunities and prospects waiting for fresh young talent… like us!

Who would your design team like to take out for dinner?
Would it be wrong to say a potential client?

What’s on the company iPod?
Kings of Leon. DMB, Mumford and sons. Some of the guys like the classics – Floyd, Dire Straits etc. And often we like to blast electronic music. We love our music – and are open to experimenting!

Mac or PC?
Paper! I believe in the power of scribbles before finally having to execute them on a system. But I sure do love my Mac : )

 Fingerprints Creative can be found online here.